subject: Concerning Diabetic Neuropathy [print this page] Although there are more than 100 types of neuropathy now known to the medical community in the United States, diabetic neuropathy is still the biggest and most inclusive when it comes to this often-times debilitating nerve disease. Diabetes in both its Type 1 and Type 2 forms can cause peripheral neuropathy, and it is estimated that approximately 30% of those men and women afflicted with neuropathy suffer through the disease due to contracting it due to their diabetic conditions. Although the mechanisms for this corollary connection between diabetes and neuropathy are still not completely understood, it appears that diabetes damages microvascular small blood vessels that are responsible with supplying nerves with blood, thus causing the nerves to malfunction and sometimes even die. Neuropathy and its many side effects are the results therein.
Because diabetes carries with it a long list of other complications, such as potential blindness and premature death, diabetic neuropathy is one of the worst forms of the nerve disease to acquire since the pain and complications of neuropathy are foisted on top of the many bodily complications that collect due to diabetes. Fortunately, there is ongoing research continuing in regards to the effects on neuropathy of the reversal of diabetes due to diet changes and medications.
Diabetes is the leading known cause of neuropathy in developed countries, and neuropathy is unfortunately the most common complication and greatest source of morbidity and mortality in diabetes patients. It has been estimated that the prevalence of neuropathy in diabetes patients today is approximately 20%, meaning that 1/5 of all those men and women afflicted with diabetes in America are experiencing or will experience the pain and other symptoms of neuropathy at some point in their lives. Diabetic neuropathy is implicated in 5075% of non-traumatic amputations as well.
Since at this point neuropathy does not have a permanent cure, those afflicted with neuropathy on top of their diabetes are encouraged to treat their diabetes first and foremost, since the disease of diabetes is what has caused their neuropathy to begin with. This is often accomplished with tight glucose control and monitoring. Research is always underway as to the possibility of completely curing diabetes and thus potentially curing neuropathy as well, although various results and findings argue for both sides of the issues in this schema. What HAS been found to be true and trustworthy is that there are tried and true neuropathy practices to help manage the disease including medicines, dietary tactics, exercise, the cessation of alcohol, proper rest and more.
Presently, the mechanisms causing diabetic neuropathy are poorly understood at best. Currently, treatments are intended to alleviate pain that neuropathy brings as well as to control some associated symptoms, but the process is generally progressive. As a very real and frightful complication, there is also an increased risk of injury to the feet because of loss of sensation. Small infections to the feet due to accident injuries can progress to ulceration and this may then lead to or require amputation.
If you or someone you know is afflicted with diabetic neuropathy, a rigorous bodily self-examination particularly of the feet, hands and legs is recommended several days a week to ensure that the body is uninjured and functioning as well as can be expected.
